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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for Seattle in 2012:

Dream scenario (12-4): Matt Flynn's fourth-quarter comeback victory over Green Bay in Week 3 serves notice in prime time that Seattle made the right move in signing the Packers' former backup. Sure, Russell Wilson lit up opponents during the preseason, but everyone figured coach Pete Carroll would go with Flynn heading into the season. Seattle hadn't been able to finish games on offense previously, but the vibe is completely different now. Flynn isn't perfect, of course, and he doesn't have to be. He has the NFL's most physical running back in Marshawn Lynch, two viable tight ends, a healthy Sidney Rice and a downright nasty offensive line.

Finally healthy, left tackle Russell Okung joins fellow 2010 draftees Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor in the Pro Bowl. Second-rounder Golden Tate won't be making the trip, but preseason rumors of a potential breakout season weren't far off.

With the defense allowing only 16 points per game, Flynn doesn't have to be a hero most weeks. By midseason, it's all Carroll can do to refrain from gloating over the team's then-controversial decision to draft Bruce Irvin in the first round. Irvin's two-sack game at San Francisco on Thursday night in Week 7 gives him 5.5 for the season, matching what the 49ers' Aldon Smith had at the same point in 2011. Irvin doesn't quite equal the 14-sack total Smith posted as a rookie, but he's not far behind. The national pundits learn the hard way what should have been evident already: Carroll and the Seahawks' personnel department know what they want on defense.

A trip to Green Bay for the NFC Championship Game leaves the Seahawks thinking big.

Nightmare scenario (6-10): Flynn isn't the answer, Wilson isn't ready and Carroll pays a high price for failing to seriously address the quarterback position until his third season with the team. It's hard for some to believe the Seahawks would miss Tarvaris Jackson, but that is the case as Flynn predictably struggles in his first full season as an NFL starter. No one cares about the division title Carroll won a couple years ago. Critics cite his 7-9, 7-9 and 6-10 records in building a case for his dismissal. They also gloat over the growing pains Irvin experienced while transitioning from West Virginia to the NFL.

Lynch's diminished production makes him an easy target for those suggesting a big contract led to complacency. Some recall Shaun Alexander's post-contract demise. But there are other reasons. Another injury-plagued season on the offensive line becomes a primary culprit. Okung, James Carpenter and John Moffitt were coming off season-ending surgeries. Rice, the team's most talented receiver, had procedures on both shoulders. Banking on so many injured offensive players was understandable after the Tom Cable-coached line worked near-miracles in 2011. But every staff has its limits. Giving some of fullback Michael Robinson's snaps to new tight end Kellen Winslow also might have affected the ground game.

The defense does enough for Carroll to keep his job, but the team heads toward the 2013 draft needing to find its next quarterback -- or else.

NFL teams selected 14 wide receivers and running backs in the first two rounds of the 2012 NFL draft, an average number since the league expanded to 32 teams for the 2002 season.

Five of the 14 landed in the NFC West, three more than the total for any other division.

The emphasis began with the Arizona Cardinals, who used the 13th overall choice for Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd.

The San Francisco 49ers went with a first-round receiver (A.J. Jenkins) and a second-round running back (LaMichael James). The St. Louis Rams used second-round choices for a receiver (Brian Quick) and a running back (Isaiah Pead).

The Seattle Seahawks, having used free agency (Sidney Rice) and trades (Marshawn Lynch, Leon Washington) to address those positions in recent seasons, were among the majority in this draft. They joined 21 other teams in targeting players at other positions in the first two rounds.

Floyd projects as a likely starter in Arizona. The others might need additional time, with James and Pead looking more like change-of-pace backs than the ones typically asked to start games and carry the ball on early downs.

The Cardinals, Rams and 49ers are among eight teams over the past three drafts to have used multiple picks in the first two rounds for receivers and runners. Detroit leads the way with four. Cleveland has three. The others have two.

I'll be interested in seeing how these new additions affect scoring. The Rams ranked last in that category for 2011. The Cardinals were 24th and the 49ers were 11th.

The protocol becomes the same for nearly every freshly minted NFL draft choice, from first-round quarterbacks to seventh-round punters.

Not long after their selections, their new employers will connect them to local NFL reporters via conference call.

A surprise awaited the Arizona Cardinals after the team made Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd the 13th overall choice in the 2012 draft.

Floyd's college coach, Brian Kelly, made an unsolicited call to the Cardinals, availing himself to media questions regarding his former player.

Kelly has vouched for other players, including Minnesota Vikings first-round pick Harrison Smith. A college head coach certainly has a recruiting interest in getting his name out there in association with prominent draft choices.

But in publicly testifying for Floyd, whose draft file includes three three alcohol-related incidents and a resulting team suspension, Kelly extended himself to an extent that wasn't necessary. It was a notable early marker for the Cardinals, who have never drafted a player with such significant baggage since Ken Whisenhunt arrived as head coach in 2007.

Floyd could not have scripted Kelly's testimonial more favorably:

• On Floyd in general: "Well, a kid who got his degree in three-and-a-half years from Notre Dame. Probably in my 23 years now as a head coach, the best practice player that I've ever had. He just has a passion and a love for the football."
• On Floyd as a teammate: "Whether he is getting the football or not, he is a guy who has never complained. He certainly always wants the ball in critical situations. He has never been a diva, if you will, in terms of not getting his catches. If we're successful and we're making plays, he's on the other end making blocks. That's why it was such a pleasure to coach the kid."
• On what changed in Floyd following a suspension: "To have an opportunity to come back and play at Notre Dame and get a degree and be successful in the NFL, he had to make some choices. And he made some great choices. Now, you've got a young man who had been through some adversity, has handled it, has been humbled because of it and the best is in front of him now."

Authorities cited Floyd for underage drinking in 2009 and 2010. A DUI conviction last year made for three alcohol-related incidents in three years, raising obvious questions about judgment and the potential for a more serious problem.

College programs can become enablers for troubled star athletes. Handing millions to those troubled athletes usually doesn't help.

Those are generalities. Floyd's situation stands on its own. Whether he has a problem or carries a heightened risk cannot be known for certain.

The Cardinals' decision to draft Floyd was an organizational one, with team owner Michael Bidwill, a former federal prosecutor, participating directly in the vetting process.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the team asked tough questions, thought Floyd provided honest answers and felt Floyd made a positive statement by returning to Notre Dame for his senior season amid quarterback uncertainty that could have hurt Floyd's status.

"I just basically told them it was a bad decision," Floyd told reporters following his selection. "I learned from it and I moved on. I know I can't be like every other college student, just doing what a college student does, because the spotlight is on me. They wanted to see if I had improvements since that time, and I have."

There is less uncertainty over the Cardinals' on-field plans for Floyd. They anticipate him becoming their flanker opposite split end Larry Fitzgerald, who had been the most recent first-round wideout chosen by Arizona. With Floyd projecting as a starter, Andre Roberts becomes a candidate for additional playing time from the slot, where Early Doucet was already a factor for the team.

Fitzgerald and Floyd present matchup problems with their size alone. Both are nearly 6-foot-3. Floyd weighed 220 pounds at the scouting combine. Fitzgerald weighed 225 upon entering the league in 2004. He has preferred playing at a lighter weight recently.

Size matters for receivers in the NFC West, a division featuring punishing safeties and Pro Bowl credentials in the secondary. Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, Adrian Wilson, Patrick Peterson, Carlos Rogers, Dashon Goldson, Donte Whitner, Cortland Finnegan and Quintin Mikell come to mind immediately.

"You could consider Mike to be still a raw receiver in that he can get better in all the technical elements in route running and things of that nature," Kelly said of Floyd. "He is certainly a guy that attacks the football and attacks defenders and blocking -- he is an outstanding blocker."

Any rookie open to input from veteran players stands to benefit from joining a team with strong leadership at the player's position. Fitzgerald sets an impeccable standard for the Cardinals' receivers and the team in general. From that standpoint, Floyd couldn't have found a better working environment.

Every team in the NFC West had a 1,000-yard rusher last season.

Coaches in Seattle, San Francisco and St. Louis have promoted run-first philosophies. Arizona has invested first- and second-round picks in running backs Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams, respectively.

Run, run, run.

And yet the division focused on the passing game quite a bit during the 2012 NFL draft -- on both sides of the ball. NFC West teams drafted a league-high three wide receivers in the first two rounds. Teams from the division drafted three cornerbacks in the first three rounds, tied with the NFC North for most in the league.

The charts show how many receivers and corners each division added through the first three rounds. The combined total for the NFC West (six) was the most for any division, one more than the NFC North.

St. Louis drafted cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins (second round) and Trumaine Johnson (third round). Arizona used a third-round choice for cornerback Jamell Fleming. Arizona (Michael Floyd) and San Francisco (A.J. Jenkins) used first-round picks for receivers. St. Louis added receiver Brian Quick in the second round (and another receiver, Chris Givens, in the fourth).

NFC West pass defenses could face additional pressure given the scheduling rotation in 2012.

Every NFC West team faces New England with Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Wes Welker.

The division also faces Green Bay (Aaron Rodgers, Jermichael Finley, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson), Detroit (Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew) and Chicago (Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall).

San Francisco draws New Orleans (Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston) and the New York Giants (Eli Manning, Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz). Arizona faces Philadelphia (Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin) and Atlanta (Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones). Seattle faces Dallas (Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Dez Bryant) and Carolina (Cam Newton, Steve Smith).

The top five teams in 2011 passing yardage -- New Orleans, New England, Green Bay, Detroit and the Giants -- show up on NFC West schedules. Green Bay, New England, the Giants and Saints comprised the top four in yards per passing attempt. The top seven teams in passing touchdowns -- Green Bay, New Orleans, Detroit, New England, Dallas, Atlanta and the Giants -- play a combined 16 games against the NFC West.

And, of course, NFC West teams must face each other, which means games against Larry Fitzgerald, Vernon Davis, Randy Moss, Sidney Rice and others.

First impressions on the Seattle Seahawks' performance in the 2012 NFL draft:

What I liked: The Seahawks, after getting much bigger in their first two seasons under Pete Carroll, added welcome speed to their roster in this draft. Pass-rusher Bruce Irvin, chosen 15th overall, had the fastest 3-cone time for any player at the NFL scouting combine. "If you look at it, our slowest guy was an offensive lineman at 4.85 (seconds in the 40-yard dash)," Carroll said. "There's great speed in this draft for us, and that's really exciting across the board, and it's going to help our special teams enormously."

Question marks: What about the offense? Seattle used a league-high seven choices for defense. One of the three offensive players selected, seventh-round guard J.R. Sweezy, was a defensive lineman in college. Another offensive pick, quarterback Russell Wilson, projects as a backup for at least this season. Fourth-round running back Robert Turbin has a chance to help as the backup to Marshawn Lynch. But it's unrealistic to think this draft will provide immediate help where the Seahawks needed it the most, on offense. This team is banking on improved quarterback play, a healthy Sidney Rice and better luck with injuries on the offensive line.

Trending: Carroll, hired in 2010, entered this draft having drafted offensive players with four of the five picks he possessed in the first three rounds. The precentage of defensive players chosen with those picks was the lowest in the NFL over the two-year period in question. The trend changed in this draft when the Seahawks used their first-round pick for Irvin and their second-rounder for Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner. Seattle's defense already ranked among the NFL leaders in yards and points allowed. This unit should be even better in 2012.

Veteran put on alert: Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson comes to mind immediately. We know the Seahawks will save a roster spot for the newly acquired Matt Flynn. We know NFL teams do not release rookie quarterbacks chosen in the third round, assuring a spot for Wilson. We do not know what the future holds for Jackson or Josh Portis. It's too early to draw conclusions. Jackson is in the running for the starting job, after all. The position just got more competitive, however.

We first introduced you to South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery at the NFL scouting combine, where Jeffery showed up having trimmed down from 231 pounds to 216 so that he could convince NFL teams he projected as a big NFL receiver and not a tight end.

Jeffery managed to do just that, and the Chicago Bears were among a handful of teams to take interest in him in the weeks leading up to the draft. The Bears hosted him at their practice facility and ultimately liked him enough to move up five spots in the second round Friday to draft him.

Two months ago, the Bears didn't have a wide receiver taller than 5-foot-11. Now they have two. Jeffery measured 6-foot-3 1/8 at the combine and will join Brandon Marshall in giving the Bears a new downfield look.

Jeffery isn't going to outrun many defensive backs. But he is bigger than all of them and has the ball skills, not unlike former Minnesota Vikings receiver Sidney Rice, to maneuver himself in place for catches in traffic. For another style comparison, think Marques Colston of the New Orleans Saints.

From a big-picture perspective, new Bears general manager Phil Emery has acted on a long-held need for the Bears roster. He's made substantive stylistic changes to their receiving corps through free agency and the draft, and he might not be done.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Green Bay Packers have received the maximum number of extra draft picks available to teams through the NFL's compensatory draft program, while the Minnesota Vikings have received two.

That's our local upshot of Monday's always-anticipated announcement of compensatory draft picks. The Packers got four extra picks and will now have 12 in next month's draft, while the Vikings will have a total of 10. Neither the Chicago Bears nor the Detroit Lions were expected to receive a compensatory pick.

The NFL doesn't reveal its exact formula for determining the extra picks, but in essence it's based on the difference in value between the free agents a team loses and the ones it signs the previous year. In 2011, the Packers bid farewell to free agents Daryn Colledge, Brandon Jackson and Cullen Jenkins, among others, and did not sign a significant free agent of their own.

The formula granted the Packers two fourth-round picks and two additional seventh-rounders. The Packers' total of 12 picks includes three in the fourth round and four in the seventh.

Meanwhile, the Vikings received two fourth-round picks, No. 33 and No. 39 in the round, after losing receiver Sidney Rice, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and defensive end Ray Edwards in 2011. They signed nose tackle Remi Ayodele, but he made little impact.

The St. Louis Rams said they would be aggressive in free agency.

Reaching agreement with Tennessee Titans free-agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan six hours into the NFL signing period counts as being aggressive.

The move could remove San Francisco 49ers free agent Carlos Rogers from consideration. It could affect the Rams' thinking toward LSU's Morris Claiborne with the sixth overall choice in the 2012 draft. Those would be logical conclusions for a team making an aggressive strike for a free-agent corner.

Then again, the Rams suffered through a tough enough 2011 season at corner to keep open their options at the position as the offseason continues.

Finnegan is 28 years old and has missed only three regular-season games in six seasons. At 5-foot-10 and 188 pounds, Finnegan does not have exceptional size for the position, notable in a division featuring Larry Fitzgerald, Sidney Rice and Randy Moss. But the tenacity and overall orneriness Finnegan brings to the game will give the Rams a welcome edge to their defense.

Finnegan's history with Rams coach Jeff Fisher and his new contract position him as a defensive building block for the new coaching staff. The previous staff brought in safety Quintin Mikell last offseason with similar thoughts in mind. Mikell remains, but the secondary will have a new feel.

Quarterback Peyton Manning's pending availability won't have too much impact on the NFC North. It should, however, influence the landing spot of what is arguably our top free agent.

Had Manning remained with the Indianapolis Colts or retired, Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn would have been the top free agent quarterback available. Now, it makes sense for any team in the market for a starter to consider Manning first. And if you're rooting for Flynn to find a landing place that can support his burgeoning career, there are some places to hope Manning doesn't go.

I don't want to shortchange Flynn's potential, but rare is the player who can rise above an otherwise limited infrastructure. Flynn's best chance for success is to sign with a team that offers a smooth schematic transition, a relatively stable coaching staff and a fair amount of playmakers around him.

That's why the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks seems like the most comfortable fits. They are also among the early speculative destinations for Manning. So if I'm Flynn, I'm hoping Manning signs with the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins or perhaps the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving the Dolphins, Seahawks and maybe the Cleveland Browns to bid for me, er, Flynn.

With the Dolphins, Flynn would play for former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin and in the West Coast scheme of another coach with Packers ties, offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. He would have Brandon Marshall as a legitimate No. 1 receiver, a tailback in Reggie Bush who had a strong finish to the 2011 season and one of the NFL's best left tackles in Jake Long.

Flynn would also be in a West Coast scheme if he signed with the Seahawks, who are coordinated by former Packers and Vikings assistant Darrell Bevell. He would have a top-flight running back in Marshawn Lynch, a presumably healthy No. 1 receiver in Sidney Rice and an upgraded offensive line.

We've heard wildly disparate views on Flynn's ceiling. Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who has watched him practice for four years, said last month that "he's ready to be an NFL starter." ESPN.com contrarian KC Joyner , meanwhile, compared him this week to Scott Mitchell, who flopped when the Detroit Lions signed him as their starter in 1993.

In the end, I think we can all agree that Flynn stands a better chance of success if he signs with, say, the Seahawks or Dolphins than if he ends up with the Browns, whose offense remains in development, or the always-chaotic Redskins. Manning can't close all the doors, but the best-case scenario for Flynn is if he leaves the right ones ones open.

NFC West suitors for the soon-to-be-released Peyton Manning can only hope the Miami Dolphins consider themselves favorites to sign him.

The Dolphins chased hard after Jim Harbaugh a year ago, media reports suggested, but Harbaugh went to the San Francisco 49ers. More recently, the Dolphins went after Jeff Fisher with great vigor, only to watch Fisher go to the St. Louis Rams.

The last time the Dolphins outbid an NFC West team for a high-profile player, they acquired Brandon Marshall from Denver when Seattle was also interested.

Manning, set to be released no later than Thursday, will surely draw widespread interest. I expect Seattle and Arizona to check into Manning's health and strongly consider pursuing him. We've discussed several potential scenarios already this offseason while anticipating Manning's expected release from Indianapolis. Nothing much has changed since then.

A few considerations for each NFC West team:

• Arizona Cardinals: The team has until March 17 to decide whether to pay a $7 million bonus to Kevin Kolb or allow him to reach free agency. John Skelton is under contract and will compete for the starting job if Kolb returns. Manning would be available to sign with any team once the Colts release him, even though free agency does not begin until March 13. The window between Manning's release and March 17 gives the Cardinals time to explore their options. They can offer Manning an indoor stadium, natural grass, arguably the NFL's best receiver in Larry Fitzgerald and an improving defense. Arizona won seven of its final eight games last season to finish 8-8. Manning would have to like his chances at improving upon that mark. Concerns about the Cardinals' offensive line have some merit, but Manning doesn't need much time. He gets rid of the ball quickly. The Colts never had great lines. As a bonus, Arizona hired Manning's former position coach, Frank Reich, to coach receivers. And if Manning needed assurances about the organization or coaching staff, he could always get a scouting report from Kurt Warner, who flourished in Arizona.
• Seattle Seahawks: The team has a strong base of talent on defense. The running game finished strong last season, with Marshawn Lynch leading the league over the final nine weeks. Sidney Rice, Zach Miller and Doug Baldwin would give Manning weapons in the passing game. Miller was underutilized in the passing game last season. The team needed him in pass protection at times. Also, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson played hurt and held the ball too long. Manning would make fuller use of Miller and the other weapons. Seattle can also offer a talented left tackle if Russell Okung has better luck on the injury front. Seattle also has easily the most appealing facilities in the division. Like Arizona, Seattle can offer a low-key media atmosphere where Manning can focus on football, same as he did in Indy. Manning's neck injuries remain a concern, but Seattle can offer something on that front as well. Team physician Stan Herring serves on the NFL's Head, Neck and Spine Committee.
• San Francisco 49ers: All signs have pointed to the 49ers re-signing Alex Smith and grooming Colin Kaepernick for the future. As long as Smith remains unsigned, however, there's at least a chance the team could go in another direction. That chance appears slim at this point, however.
• St. Louis Rams: The Rams have said they're going to build around Sam Bradford. Manning is not an option for them.

OK, NFC West community. What say you?

The injury Ryan Williams suffered during his second NFL exhibition game was relatively unusual for football players.

"My kneecap was in my thigh," the Arizona Cardinals' running back said during a team-produced video on his rehabilitation. "It was just kind of like, 'What?' "

A torn patella tendon ended Williams' rookie season before it officially began.

The running back expects to return for training camp and the 2012 regular season. Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham returned from similar injuries, but each situation is different. The Cardinals cannot know how the knee will respond. No one can.

Cadillac Williams returned, only to injure his other knee. Suffering a second injury so quickly complicated comparisons to other running backs returning from a single torn patella.

Ryan Williams is not yet even 22 years old, however.

"He has youth on his side, for sure," ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell said Thursday. "What you worry about is, it takes a lot to get any kind of explosiveness or power back. You're not talking about strength, but quickness."

Williams, a second-round choice from Virginia Tech, impressed the Cardinals with his ability to change directions without losing much speed.

"It is reasonable he could be back when the season starts," Bell said, "but will he really be back? That is going to remain to be seen and like these guys coming off ACL surgeries, it may take a while to see what his max is that he can return to."

The Cardinals need Williams in part because their primary back, Beanie Wells, has struggled with injuries, fighting through knee trouble last season after undergoing surgery.

Four additional injury situations to monitor, one per NFC West team, as the offseason continues:

• Arizona: Kevin Kolb, quarterback. Concussion problems have sidelined Kolb each of the past two seasons. Symptoms lingered last season. Quarterbacks are going to take hits unexpectedly, sometimes to the head. Can Kolb stay on the field?
• Seattle: Sidney Rice, receiver. Rice has undergone surgery on each shoulder. One surgery repaired damage suffered during training camp. The other repaired damage incurred during college. The hope is healthier shoulders will allow Rice to improve strength throughout his upper body.
• San Francisco: Josh Morgan, receiver. The 49ers were relatively healthy last season, but losing Morgan to a broken ankle cost them as the season progressed, particularly late. Morgan is without a contract for 2012. He has been working out at the 49ers' team facility. Getting him back would help the offense.
• St. Louis: Rodger Saffold, pectoral. The Rams had injuries throughout their roster, especially at cornerback. Saffold's ability to play four positions on the line, including left tackle, makes him more valuable than members of the secondary. Saffold has said he hopes to be ready by April or May, according to Howard Balzer. He suffered a torn pectoral while lifting weights in mid-November.

INDIANAPOLIS — While we're on the topic of "big receivers" — and when aren't we? — I wonder if we shouldn't also introduce South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery to our conversation.

Jeffery measured 6-foot-3 1/8 earlier this week and surprised many observers by weighing 216 pounds, a significant drop of about 15 pounds from last fall. Receivers will work out on Sunday, and while it's not clear if he will run the 40-yard dash Sunday with the rest of the receivers, a strong time -- whenever he runs -- could lift him into the conversation for the Chicago Bears at No. 19 or the Minnesota Vikings if they trade back into the first round. At worse, Jeffery could be a candidate for the third pick of the second round, which the Vikings own.

Jeffery told reporters he thinks he'll eventually run a 4.5 and that, regardless, he said he has the "best hands" of the draft. It's worth noting that another big receiver from South Carolina, Sidney Rice, was dogged by speed questions in 2007. He was ultimately a second-round pick of the Vikings, and his career has been plagued by injury questions but never concerns about his speed. I'm also reminded of former North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks, who seemed dogged about weight questions during the run-up to the 2009 draft.

Jeffery is positioning himself to be a draft riser over the next few months. He's got the weight down. Now it's time to find out about his speed.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Turns out Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice underwent two shoulder surgeries this offseason.

That was the word from general manager John Schneider, who told reporters the team expected Rice back for training camp.

We spoke with Schneider about so many subjects -- trading up for a quarterback, Marshawn Lynch as a candidate for the franchise tag, Red Bryant's value as a core player, Pete Carroll's affinity for K.J. Wright as a middle linebacker -- that the Rice revelation nearly slipped my mind.

Rice went on injured reserve last season after playing through a labrum injury in one shoulder. The other shoulder had been a problem since Rice was in college. Doctors decided to fix both shoulders this offseason.

Rice came to Seattle in free agency last offseason amid concerns about a previous hip operation. Having two shoulder surgeries instead of one raises additional questions about durability.

Rice, 25, has missed 17 games over the past two seasons.

The San Francisco 49ers aren't the only NFC West team needing help at wide receiver. The St. Louis Rams stand ahead of San Francisco in that line, particularly if Brandon Lloyd departs in free agency.

Where the 49ers pick in the 2012 draft's first round -- 30th overall, compared to second for the Rams -- led longtime NFL analyst Pat Kirwan, now with CBS, to list San Francisco among three potential trade suitors for Pittsburgh Steelers restricted free agent Mike Wallace.

One of our blog regulars, Johnny Alcatraz, pointed me toward Kirwan's piece in the comments section of our first item Monday. As Kirwan notes, the new labor agreement eliminated high tenders for restricted free agents. Teams signing away restricted free agents from rival teams now would risk only a first-round draft choice, down from first- and third-round choices under the previous labor agreement.

Wallace, with three years of NFL experience, is scheduled to become a restricted free agent. The Steelers could match any offers to him or command a 2012 first-round pick from any team signing him.

The way Kirwan sees things, the 49ers and other receiver-needy teams holding low first-round choices might value Wallace enough to part with their choices near the bottom of the round. The Steelers, averse to overpaying and facing those aforementioned cap concerns, might prefer a first-round choice to a cap-averse contract.

Such a scenario, though unlikely to play out, makes for a worthwhile mental exercise. Among the considerations:

• The Steelers and NFL teams in general want to keep their best young players. Wallace is 26 years old and has averaged 1,068 yards per season and 18.7 yards per reception. Subtracting Wallace would diminish the Steelers' return on their primary investment, Ben Roethlisberger.
• Without the high restricted tender, teams could be tempted to use the recently discounted franchise tag for players such as Wallace. That is an option for the Steelers.
• Making a splashy move for another team's player goes against the way San Francisco has operated recently. Think about it this way: Prying away Wallace from the Steelers would require parting with draft compensation and valuing Wallace more than Pittsburgh values him. That is an unlikely double. The 49ers have taken care in determining which players to value the most, focusing on their own. That will presumably continue.
• The 49ers might not agree with outside assessments of their roster or team needs. A rookie contract dispute, injuries, coaching changes and a lockout have prevented Michael Crabtree from experiencing a normal NFL offseason. That should finally change in 2012. Crabtree generally played well during the regular season. Vernon Davis came on strong as a receiver late in the season, once he had time to digest the playbook. The 49ers might be more apt to supplement their receiving ranks, as opposed to overhauling it from the top down.

The AFC North blog's Jamison Hensley addressed potential interest in Wallace from Baltimore and Cincinnati. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome used the phrase "double-whammy" when describing the draft compensation and inflated contract required to land a prized restricted free agent. The Bengals already have A.J. Green, making Wallace seem more like a luxury than a player Cincinnati needs to have.

Wallace would look good in any NFC West uniform. Imagine the damage he could do opposite Larry Fitzgerald or Sidney Rice, even amid quarterback concerns. The Rams obviously need weapons for Sam Bradford as well.

The Steelers will ultimately control whether Wallace leaves. They have every reason to keep him, in my view.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending:

Final Power Ranking: 21
Preseason Power Ranking: 25

Biggest surprise: Seattle's ground game continued building momentum after the Seahawks lost three starting offensive linemen to season-ending injuries. Losing rookies James Carpenter and John Moffitt from the line's right side threatened depth and continuity. Losing left tackle Russell Okung for the final four games should have been disastrous heading into games against Julius Peppers, Justin Smith and Calais Campbell. Instead, Seattle charged forward with Paul McQuistan at left tackle. Marshawn Lynch led the NFL in rushing yards over the final nine weeks of the season. He was fourth over the final four weeks, when McQuistan was in the lineup. Lynch needed only 15 games to top 1,200 yards rushing even though Seattle never started the same offensive line more than three games in a row. Line coach Tom Cable proved his worth.

Biggest disappointment: The Seahawks invested millions in free-agent weapons Sidney Rice and Zach Miller without getting much receiving production from either. Miller was a mainstay as a blocker, but Seattle did not maximize his talent as a receiver. Both Rice and Miller missed games to injury. They combined for 57 receptions, 717 yards and two touchdowns. Miller had 60-685-5 by himself with Oakland in 2010. Seattle went all season without getting a touchdown reception from a tight end. Rice underwent shoulder surgery this week and expects to require 3-4 months rehabilitation.

Biggest need: Quarterback and pass-rusher head the list. Those are arguably the two most important positions on any team. The Seahawks have done an admirable job building up their roster with emerging young talent, but they appear unlikely to take a big step forward without addressing those two key areas. The draft will be pivotal; a coin flip with Kansas City will determine whether Seattle drafts 11th or 12th overall.

Team MVP: Lynch, in a landslide. The adage about running backs being relatively replaceable did not apply to Seattle in this case. No back in the league ran as violently as Lynch this season. He ran through and over opponents, breaking free from packs of defenders. The Seahawks expect to add another big back through the draft or free agency, but there is only one Lynch. Re-signing him is a top priority.

In with the new: A strong rookie class made immediate contributions while offering promise for the future. Carpenter, Moffitt, linebacker K.J. Wright, cornerback Richard Sherman, receiver Doug Baldwin and receiver Ricardo Lockette showed enough to factor next season. All but Lockette project as starters. Another rookie receiver, Kris Durham, is returning from injury and has the size to become a Mike Williams type. Carpenter's future could be at guard if the team decides to stick with Giacomini at right tackle.